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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. This isn't the 1400's or Aksinya would be burned at the stake. I know it is difficult for many modern readers to understand, but the archinquisitor's punishment is very harsh. He destroyed these people socially and professionally. He also may have taken any hope of salvation from them. This is purposeful. I try to convey how important this is in the novel.

The
Archinquisitor chuckled, “They must answer for their own sins.It is not up to you to judge, little
girl.Herr von Taaffe, you are allowed
communion after proper repentance and penance to be determined by the Cardinal
of Wien.You are accused and guilty of
seduction and acquaintance with sorcery.Repent of this, and you shall be freely given the succor of your HolyChurch.Equally, you, Sister Margarethe, are guilty of acquaintance with sorcery.You shall not be allowed to teach for the
rest of your life.After proper
repentance and penance, you shall be allowed to continue as a novice of your
community until such time as your Reverend Mother and Abbot shall accept you
into the Holy Orders again.”He took a
deep breath, “You, Lady Natalya are a victim of this woman.Upon repentance and penance and if you are
confirmed within our community, I allow you to join with our Holy Catholic
Church.”

Aksinya’s
lips turned slightly up.That quickly became
a frown.

The
Archinquisitor continued, “Reverend Mother Kluge, you allowed this sorceress to
enter Sacré
Coeur and bewitch your sisters and your students.You shall be reduced to a sister of your
order and not hold the position of Reverend Mother again.The Abbot, Father Abend, is equally guilty of
this sin and shall also be reduced to a priest without authority until properly
elevated.I pronounce the school, Sacré Coeur, to be
closed until a full accounting of the evil that was committed within it is
determined and purged.It shall open
again only under these conditions are met.”

The Reverend
Mother gave a cry.The sisters around
her held to her.

“The convent shall
be under a full review and shall accept penance until the time the Cardinal of
Wien shall lift that penance.No new
novices shall be accepted nor sisters elevated until that time.”

Aksinya panted,
“You already had planned all this before you heard anything, didn’t you?”

“You, little girl
have nothing to say to me.You are
meaningless now.You will soon face your
accusers in another court, a court of secular law, and you should pray they are
as lenient as I.”

Aksinya
stood, “I accept the just punishment for my sins.I admit to them and confess them all to
you.”She dropped to her knees, “I beg
your pardon for any and all suffering I have caused.I have no excuse for my actions.I only wish I could take your suffering on
myself.Forgive all these.Please, in the name of God, forgive them and
only punish me.”

The Archinquisitor made a dismissive motion with his
hand and signaled for the guards, “Your penance and pleas come much too late,
little girl.”

Of course Aksinya's pleas fall on deaf ears. Did anyone think there would be any other result? The demon set this up. He used the church and its holiest to do his work. The demon meant to punish Aksinya by punishing her friends. This has been his greatest success. The demon took from Sister Margarethe her greatest love, to teach. He took from the Reverend Mother her position and authority. He took from the Abbot his position and authority. The only fault of these people was to be associated with Aksinya. Thus the punishment harms these people and Aksinya all the worse.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. This isn't a real trial, it is an inquisition--did you expect it to be fair or for the inquisitors not to be evil? The archinquisitor's job was to bring punishment to people who broke ecclesiastical law. That is what he does best. Aksinya's job was to protect her friends. We knew the outcome of the trial--that was an anticipation of the reader. The end state wasn't fully realized--that is what we are getting to now.

The Archinquisitor tapped his paper, “The
innocence of these three is still in question.I wish to question them.First,
Herr Taaffe, did you know the Princess Aksinya was a sorceress?”

“Princess…?” He glanced at Aksinya, “I knew
the Countess was a sorceress. Yes.”

Aksinya groaned, “You need not confess to
such a thing.I will not lie, but I
don’t wish them to lie on my account.”

Aksinya
roared, “Shut up, Natalya.You…you.Please don’t do this.I already told you I am a sorceress.What do you gain by smearing my friends?”

The
Archinquisitor smiled, “I think the guilt of all these individuals can be
attributed to the Princess Aksinya.Therefore, I am ready to pronounce my verdict on all of them. This verdict shall stand unless revoked by Rome.”He paused for a moment then continued, “If I
had the authority, I would ask that you,” he pointed at Aksinya, “be burned at
the stake.I don’t have that power,
therefore, I pronounce the Princess Aksinya guilty of necromancy and
sorcery.She is not Catholic and
therefore cannot be excommunicated.She
shall be denied communion and succor from the Holy Catholic Church all her life
long.She is a notorious sinner who has
brought many to ruin.She will not be
allowed in any building or property owned by this Church.She shall not be acknowledged by any leader
of the Holy Catholic Church as nobility nor aristocracy.She is to be shunned by commoner and noble
alike until her life ends.This edict with
a similar recommendation shall be sent to the Orthodox Church and to all other
official Christian bodies.They shall
judge her themselves.”

Aksinya smiled and nodded.

Ernst, Natalya, and Sister Margarethe for all their faults are still honest and honorable people. Aksinya wanted to protect them, but were unwilling to protect themselves. They wanted to protect Aksinya. Thus the truthful exchange--they want to take the attention from Aksinya to themselves. They were largely unsuccessful. The punishment for Aksinya and hte others has just begun--they will not be able to recover so easily from the verdict of the Church. This affects them socially as well as religiously.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. The tension of a witness scene in a trial is the buildup of the anticipation of what the witness will reveal or what the solicitor or judge might reveal. In this case, we have a declaration by the accused based on the witnesses testimony. This might be highly irregular in a judicial trial, but not so in an inquisition where the accused is sitting in the judge's seat. Aksinya is too artless to hide anything. She desires to be confessed and she will be confessed. The Archinquisitor simply wants t make his case and then torture the guilty. Aksinya is making this very hard for him.

Sister Margarethe and Natalya stepped
forward, and the Inquisitor swore them in.

Ernst
held his head up high, “This man along with about ten others were about to rape
the Lady Natalya and the Sister.The Countess stopped them.”

“Using sorcery.”

Ernst continued, “I don’t know what she
did.All I know, is that she stopped
them from violating the ladies.”

The Archinquisitor continued, “And what she
did caused those men to find themselves in the street later more than a block
away.”

“It saved the Lady and Sister’s virtue from
rapists.”

Herr Mueller clenched his hands together,
“Father, may I go.”

“Yes, go.”

Aksinya’s voice rang clearly, “I did use
sorcery to save them.Those men were
tempted by the demon.My demon is
Asmodeus, the demon of lust and luxuria.It was his doing.He tempted
those men and caused them to act as they did.As you can see, Herr Taaffe, the Lady Natalya, and Sister Margarethe
are innocent.I can’t vouch for the
innocence of Herr Mueller.”

Herr Mueller ran to the door and was let
out.

The declaration in this scene is a declaration of the theme of the novel. You will not often have this type of opportunity (unless you planned it from the beginning of the novel). This is supposed to be a duuh statement. If you have planned your novel properly, you should be in such control that you have planned these very critical events. The reader should not miss the importance of Aksinya's statement. The demon still is in power, but Aksinya has declared the truth that rings through the novel. There is an element of humor as well--Herr Mueller's quick exit.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. We get the first witness. A witness scene is obviously one of tension and release. The witness is called and the solicitor asks him questions. In a court, it isn't very exciting. In a novel, the author has control over the events. In this case, Aksinya holds sway over the circumstances. The witness makes statements and Aksinya counters. The release in such a scene is the summary of the results of the testimony. An author should use this to build tension and then release tension.

“This
is also a sin of grave consequence.Inquisitor, call the first witness to her sorcery.”

Aksinya
plopped down in her chair.

The
Inquisitor stepped to the door and brought in a middle-aged man with a heavy
face and the clothing of a merchant.Inquisitor Esposito swore him in as a witness and ended, “State your
name for the court.”

“If
it please you, Father.I’m August
Mueller.”

The
Archinquisitor looked the man up and down, “Herr Mueller, you stated that you
saw an act of sorcery caused by this woman, the Princess Aksinya.Please describe it.”

“Yes,
Father.One evening last December, my
friends and I were drinking, begging your pardon, at the Golden Adler Gasthaus
on Sacré
Coeur Straße.That Lady,” He pointed at
Aksinya, “said some strange words and pointed at us, and when we woke up we
were on the street more than a block from the Gasthaus.”

“Where there any
other people around at the time?”

“There
were my mates.You already talked to
them all.But there was also a nun and
another Lady.This one,” He pointed at
Aksinya again, “was dressed in the uniform of Sacré Coeur.The other lady was also dressed like her.”

“Anyone else?”

“There was a
gentleman.”

“Do you recognize
the nun in this courtroom?”

The man paused a
moment, then pointed, “That nun, there.”

“Sister Margarethe, will you stand.”

Sister Margarethe grabbed the seat in
front of her and stood.

Herr
Mueller nodded, “That’s the one.”

Archinquisitor
Gallo smiled, “I’d like you to look at a couple of other people and see if you
can identify them.Inquisitor.”

Inquisitor
Esposito went to the door and Ernst Taaffe followed by Natalya entered.Natalya held her head up high, but she was
slightly stooped on one side.Tears
covered her face.Aksinya started.She stood, “Lady Natalya.”

The Archinquisitor
snarled, “Quiet.Herr Mueller, do you
recognize this man and woman?”

“Yes, Father.That is the gentleman I mentioned, there, and
the other lady.”

Aksinya cried out,
“Why don’t you ask Herr Mueller what he was doing when this sorcery occurred.”

Herr Mueller
colored.

The Archinquisitor
snapped, “Herr Mueller is not on trial here.”

“Then ask the Lady
Natalya or Sister Margarethe
what was happening at the time.”

“That
is neither here nor there.”

“I
insist.Inquisitor, your job is defense,
then defend.Ask them what was
happening.”

“I
must swear them in.”

“Then
do so.”

If you have read Aksinya or if you have been reading along with these scenes, you know that Herr Mueller and his friends were tempted to rape the Lady Natalya and Sister Margarethe. Herr Mueller and the inquisitors do not want this information to be known. Thus they oppose Aksinya's wishes. The anticipation in the tension for the reader is this knowledge. The question in the mind of the reader is whether the archinquisitor will allow a witness in Aksinya's behalf.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation.
The scene immediately moves to the next tension development. Note how I communicate Aksinya's knowledge of what is going on (she says it). This is a slight tension release--the reader imagines that the trial will be suddenly over and everything will be better (or worse). This is not the case--in a show trial, the accused is merely an actor. They are not important to the outcome or the events. They are the sacrifice. The archinquisitor has no intention of letting all the other "guilty" players free. This is his show trail, and he will make everyone suffer. Aksinya realizes this, she wishes to protect her friends.

The Archinquisitor
hid his face for a moment.He stood and
stepped off the platform.

The inquisitor
bowed toward Aksinya, “Princess Aksinya, may I approach?”

“Please do,
Inquisitor.”

Inquisitor
Esposito stepped beside her and whispered, “You are not wise to infuriate the
Archinquisitor.You have embarrassed him
before his own court.”

Aksinya whispered
back to him, “The verdict of this trail is already known.I simply settled the first point.”

“Yes.”He stood.

Aksinya waved,
“Please proceed.”

The Archinquisitor
returned to his papers, “Very well, Princess Aksinya.We have established your rank.”He cleared his throat, “The first accusation
is therefore moot.The court
acknowledges your right as both a Russian Princess and a Russian
Countess.”He paused just a moment to
take a deep breath, “The next charge is that you did commit sorcery and by this
sorcery did murder your own family, steal the goods from the estate of
Count Golitsyna,
cheated merchants in Wien, and escaped Russian justice.”

Aksinya rested her
elbow on the arm of the chair and laid her chin on the back of her hand, “I
admit to sorcery.I am guilty of that
great sin.I have confessed it and am
forgiven.I have not paid the price for
all the evil I committed because of it.”The Archinquisitor was about to speak.Aksinya raised her hand, “I did not murder my family.I did not steal the goods that already
belonged to me.I did not intentionally
cheat the merchants in this city.I am
not certain there is Russian justice.As
a Princess, I am Russian justice.Do you
have any witnesses to any of these charges?”

“To the charge of
cheating, there are witnesses, but if you acknowledge them, they are also
moot.”

“I will accept
that and any secular punishment.I
believe that is well beyond this court.”

“Yes, you are
correct Princess.Then let the court
record read that the Princess Aksinya is guilty of theft and that shall be left
to the secular courts.There are other
charges.”

“Then proceed,
Archinquisitor.”

“This court wishes
to establish your guilt of sorcery.”

“I admit it.What more is there to say?”

“The proof exists,
and I wish to establish it.The other
charges related to this are that you did kidnap and seduce the mind and soul of
the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna
Obolenska and that you did seduce the mind and soul of Herr Ernst von Taaffe.”

“I admit those grave sins.Pronounce your judgment.”

“That is not enough.This court wishes to establish their guilt in
this great sin also.”

Aksinya cried out, “They have no guilt in
this at all.It was all my doing.Punish me, not them.”

“There is also the question of the school, Sacré Coeur, the Reverend Mother Kluge,
Abbot Father Abend, and Sister
Margarethe.”

Aksinya
half stood, “That is enough.They are
innocent of any wrongdoing.I am the
sorceress.They knew nothing of my evil
deeds.I will tell you, I called a demon
from the pit.They committed nothing
wrong.It was all my own actions.”

The
Archinquisitor stroked his chin, “You called a demon.”He turned to the inquisitor, “Did you know
this Inquisitor Esposito?”

The
Inquisitor danced from foot to foot, “She…the Princess confessed this to me.”

“This
is also a sin of grave consequence.Inquisitor, call the first witness to her sorcery.”

Aksinya plopped down in her chair.

In developing tension and release, the point is to excite your readers with anticipation, then give them what they want--answers, action, etc. In the case of the trial, the tension is the accusation of sorcery. The archinquisitor claims he has witnesses. Everyone wants to see these witnesses. This is the anticipation. The release will be the knowledge from them and the pronouncements of what that means in terms of Aksinya and the witnesses.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. When you develop a scene, you may have and you should want to have multiple tension and release incidents. In this scene, there is the overall tension and release of the trial itself, and at the same time, there are specific incidents in the plot that also produce tension and release. The first is the proof of Aksinya's identity. This was kept secret through the entire novel. It was foreshadowed and hinted at, but the truth doesn't come out until this very moment. At this time, we learn Aksinya is a princess. The catholic church and the people of the Austrian society must follow the dictates of their culture and their laws and properly attend her. This is a tactical victory for Aksinya, but a strategic loss.

The Archinquisitor
half stood, “Quiet in the courtroom.Preposterous, I say.You claim
first to be a Countess and now to be a Romanov Princess.”He slowly lowered himself back into the
Bishop’s seat.

“I am a Romanov
Princess and a Countess and I insist on being addressed properly.”

The Archinquisitor
stood, “Inquisitor Esposito, are the Bockmanns here?”

“It is
necessary.Right now.Bring Freiherr Bockmann into the courtroom.”

The inquisitor
bowed.He went to the door, and after a
few minutes, Freiherr Bockmann reluctantly entered the chapel.

The Archinquisitor
sat in his chair, “Swear the Freiherr in.”

The Inquisitor
held the Gospel book before Freiherr Bockmann, “You do swear by Almighty God,
the searcher of hearts, that you shall speak the truth as you know it to this
ecclesiastical court. And this as you shall answer to God at the great day.”

The Freiherr
looked uncomfortable.He mumbled, “I do
so swear.”He kissed the book.

The Archinquisitor
took a deep breath, “The question, Freiherr Bockmann is the lineage of this
girl.Whose child is she?”

The Freiherr
turned toward the Archinquisitor, “I did not wish to testify in this proceeding
at all.”

The Archinquisitor
glared at the Freiherr, “This is a simple question, and we must know the answer
to if we are to proceed.”He pointed at
Aksinya, “I ask you again, whose child is she?”

The Freiherr wrung
his hands, “She is the daughter of my sister, Princess Nina Vladimirovna
Golitsyna, nee Bockmann and the Grand Duke George Alexandrovich
Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov.”

The Archinquisitor
bowed.The courtroom bowed.Aksinya stood and stepped onto the
platform.She moved to the
Archinqusitor.She put out her
hand.The Archinquisitor dropped to his
left knee and touched her hand.Aksinya
continued, “It is not proper for you to sit above me, Father.May I take your seat?”

The Archinquisitor
glanced at her then lowered his head.He
choked out, “You may have my seat, Princess.”

The Archinquisitor
hid his face for a moment.He stood and
stepped off the platform.

Aksinya did not make a friend. The tension is what is her birthright. The release is when the Freiherr declares it. Then the rest of the release in the scene is the obeisance of the people to Aksinya. Another tension begins with the Archinquisitor--he is angry and he has a job to do. We shall see how Aksinya fares in the next example.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation. We are up to the inquisition of Akinsya. Frau Becker takes Aksinya to the place of the trial. We have the scene setting in time, place, and character. The setup of this scene is the tension development of the trial and then the actual trial. During the trial, we have the various points of the prosecution presented...

In
the morning, Frau Becker dressed Aksinya in her thin black dress and brought
her breakfast in the room where she had been convalescing.Just before nine, she led Aksinya to the
chapel within the Cardinal’s house.Aksinya heard the sounds of a crowd outside the building.Through the windows, she caught a glimpse of
men with cameras and writing pads.Guards stood at the inner doors.Inside the chapel was an altar on a slightly raised platform.Just ahead of the altar sat a bishop’s chair
on the platform.A second smaller chair
sat below the platform and about ten feet from the edge of it.The other seats for spectators where arranged
behind this.They were already filled
with many officials of the church.Aksinya could tell by their robes.Aksinya recognized the Reverend Mother, the Abbot, and Sister Margarethe
near the middle of the crowd.Some of
the higher ranking sisters from the convent, Sacré Coeur, were also there.Aksinya remembered them from her
classes.A few secular spectators were
seated at the back.Aksinya could tell
since they were the only ones without ecclesiastical robes.

Frau Becker led Aksinya
to the smaller chair and pointed toward it, “You are to sit there, child.”

As she sat,
Aksinya grasped Frau Becker’s hand, “Thank you for your kindness to me.I shall not forget it.”She smiled.

Frau Becker
covered her face with her free hand, “You are welcome.I’ve been instructed to help you as you have
need.I’ll sit just behind you.”

After a few
minutes, Inquisitor Esposito entered.He
did not sit.He nodded toward
Aksinya.Moments later, the
Archinquisitor Gallo came in from the door at the side of the altar.Everyone stood.The Archinquisitor glared at Aksinya then
bowed to the altar and immediately began an ascension prayer in Latin.He led the court in a general confession and
absolved them.He led them in the
Apostolic Creed.Then he sat down and
signaled for everyone to be seated.

“That may be so,
but I insist that you address me by my proper title.”

“Your identity is
one of the questions before this court, but if you fail to hold your tongue, I
will have you bound and gagged.”

“That is your
prerogative, but I also have the right to be addressed properly by this court.”

The Archinquisitor
turned to Inquisitor Esposito, “Instruct the Fraulein in the proper decorum of
the court.”

Aksinya glared at
him, “This is the first issue before the court.If you can’t identify me properly then what kind of trial can this be?”

“I warned you
once, little girl.I will have you bound
and gagged.”

Inquisitor
Esposito stammered, “If it pleases the Archinquisitor, the promotor
fiscalis should
first establish the identity of the accused.”

The Archinquisitor frowned
at him, “Very well.This is not the
usual procedure, but I will take the advice of the advocatus reorum and first prove the
identity of the accused.”He faced
Aksinya, “Little girl, what is your baptized name?I know it is not Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna.”

Aksinya stared him
down, “My father was Grand Duke George Alexandrovich Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov.He died of tuberculosis before I was born.My mother was Princess Nina Vladimirovna
Golitsyna, nee Bockmann.She later
married my adopted father Count Andrei Nikolaevich Golitsyna.I was given my adopted father’s name and all
rights to the name by him.”

A whisper started
in the courtroom, “She claims to be a princess.”

The Archinquisitor
half stood, “Quiet in the courtroom.Preposterous, I say.You claim
first to be a Countess and now to be a Romanov Princess.”He slowly lowered himself back into the
Bishop’s seat.

“I am a Romanov
Princess and a Countess and I insist on being addressed properly.”

Aksinya takes control of the situation from the beginning. This is the first tension and release. It isn't completely resolved at this point. It leads directly into the second tension and release.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

About Me

L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing explores with originality those cultures and societies we think we already know. His writing distinctively develops the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive. L. D. Alford is familiar with technology and cultures—he is widely traveled and earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Dayton, and is a graduate of Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and the USAF Test Pilot School. L. D. Alford is an author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality. He is the author of three historical fiction novels: Centurion, Aegypt, and The Second Mission, and three science fiction novels: The End of Honor, The Fox’s Honor, and A Season of Honor.